The symptoms of my problem began with dishes not getting very clean. Wasnt really sure if it was my perception or not so I let it go a while. Then I determined the upper sprayer arm wasnt moving (could hear motor running, tub had water in the bottom but opening closing door revealed arm in same position). Shortly after that the dishwasher started making noise.

This is what I have tried:

1. Visit this website and supplementary searches.

2. Remove lower spray arm and the various covers and filters down to the chopper assembly. Found and removed what I have learned from this site is technically termed "gunkus" - calcified labels, plastic stuff, lots of soap calcification. Removed the chopper assembly soaked and cleaned (toothpicked the various calcified holes). Replaced the chopper assembly and everything else.

3. Ran a cycle on HOT WASH with bottle of dishwasher magic.

4. Ran a small dish load everything looked pretty clean but I didnt really have anything that dirty (e.g. no spaghetti, coffee, juice, etc) that would be any challenge.

The upper spray arm is moving and general overall improvement. However the noise remains.

In one post regarding a different mfg/model our sometimes lucid host I think suggested the chopper shaft may have been stripped but I dont know how to check for that short of removing dishwasher and removing motor assembly. When I installed chopper, I turned the impeller by sticking finger down water inlet valve so i am reasonably sure the reinstalled chopper is engaging the impeller. I have no idea if the impeller is moving I guess.

P.S. - I originally thought the dirty dishes were due to malfunctioning soap dispenser but I replaced that with a new dispenser and verified that the door opens.

The upper spray arm is moving and general overall improvement. However the noise remains.

Do you hear the noise during the wash cycle or only at the beginning, when the drain pump is running? Can also tell this by removing the kickpanels and listening to the drain pump while runs.

In one post regarding a different mfg/model our sometimes lucid host I think suggested the chopper shaft may have been stripped but I dont know how to check for that short of removing dishwasher and removing motor assembly. When I installed chopper, I turned the impeller by sticking finger down water inlet valve so i am reasonably sure the reinstalled chopper is engaging the impeller. I have no idea if the impeller is moving I guess.

If the chopper is stripped, it will turn on the motor shaft without engaging the motor.

Noise begins AFTER basin fills WHEN motor/spraying sound starts and continues until drying

chopper gear that engages impeller was not stripped and successfully turned when I manually turned the impeller by sticking my finger down the water inlet. I dont know if the impeller is stripped and turning (or if that is a likelihood)

#jumptrout

optimistic grasshoppah say: "glass half full"

Just finished full load and despite noise, everything looks clean including a couple of "challenges" (e.g. cheese knife with residue, etc.) which prior to degunkifying were not getting clean. Noise is new and unusual and if I can solve to avoid future problems, then yay! but I cant see what effect it is having on end result. This load was done on the High Temp setting which I had resorted to try to improve performance (without taking anything apart). So I will try next one with normal settings.

The most likely cause of the noise is a front motor bearing going out and it will keep getting worse and cleaning will degrade further as the motor isn't able to turn fast enough.

This happens form the pump seal going out and continually seeping a small amount of water into that front bearing but not enough to leak out onto the floor were you will have a clue that it is leaking.

You wouldn't believe how bad that front bearing area can get with just very little signs of leakage/corrosion at the front of the motor housing, (the area behind the seal and in front of the front bearing is pretty well closed in and contains the small leakage and directs it directly into the front motor bearing.

You wouldn't believe how bad that front bearing area can get with just very little signs of leakage/corrosion at the front of the motor housing, (the area behind the seal and in front of the front bearing is pretty well closed in and contains the small leakage and directs it directly into the front motor bearing.

Ezzacly. Njpat, if you remove the wash motor, the corrosion is usually visible: